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Nursing Home MalpracticeIt's no secret that the nursing home industry has been in crisis for many years. This crisis is due in part to complicated insurance issues that have left nursing care providers with insufficient funds to give residents the level of care they are legally obligated to provide.
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Dangerous reductions in staffing and other cost-cutting measures contribute to increased incidents of neglect, injury and death in many long term care facilities.
Based on information collected in 2008 by the U.S. General Accountability Office "state surveys understate problems in licensed facilities: 70% of state surveys miss at least one deficiency and 15% of surveys miss actual harm and immediate jeopardy of a nursing home resident." (See the National Center on Elder Abuse website for more statistics related to abuse and neglect in nursing homes and other long term care facilities)
According to information provided by the the National Council for Aging Care a "U.S. survey of nursing home staff reported that 36% of respondents witnessed a least one incident of physical abuse of an elderly patient that year. Forty percent stated that they themselves had psychologically abused patients, while 10% admitted to physical abuse." For guidance on how to recognize elder abuse visit AgingInPlace.org.
Potential signs of elder abuse, neglect or nursing home malpractice:
If you suspect that nursing home malpractice has occurred, an attorney should be contacted as soon as possible. There are time limitations on filing claims and the longer you wait, the greater the chance that important evidence will be lost.
Based on information collected in 2008 by the U.S. General Accountability Office "state surveys understate problems in licensed facilities: 70% of state surveys miss at least one deficiency and 15% of surveys miss actual harm and immediate jeopardy of a nursing home resident." (See the National Center on Elder Abuse website for more statistics related to abuse and neglect in nursing homes and other long term care facilities)
According to information provided by the the National Council for Aging Care a "U.S. survey of nursing home staff reported that 36% of respondents witnessed a least one incident of physical abuse of an elderly patient that year. Forty percent stated that they themselves had psychologically abused patients, while 10% admitted to physical abuse." For guidance on how to recognize elder abuse visit AgingInPlace.org.
Potential signs of elder abuse, neglect or nursing home malpractice:
- Bed sores (decubitus ulcers)
- Pressure sores or bruising around the wrists or ankles
- Falling accidents
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Residents wandering unattended
- Unresponsiveness and depression
- Dementia (due to overmedication)
If you suspect that nursing home malpractice has occurred, an attorney should be contacted as soon as possible. There are time limitations on filing claims and the longer you wait, the greater the chance that important evidence will be lost.
If you believe that an elderly loved one has been the victim of nursing home malpractice contact me by phone, email or the online form. I offer free consultations and am available for evening, weekend, and in-home appointments.
860-886-2800
[email protected]
860-886-2800
[email protected]
